Humidifying device for internal combustion engines



April 5, 1938. E. NIETHAMEIR HUMID'IFYING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR. 184/10 02 ATTORNEY.

April 5, 1938. E. NIETHAMER HUMIDIFYING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFYING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COM- BUSTION ENGINES 2 Claims.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a simple, practical, and economical humidifying device by means of which steam and/or moist air can be supplied to the intake ,manifold of the engine to provide a moist explosive mixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and convenient means for regulating the volume of steam or moist air supplied to the intake manifold.

A further object is to provide a new and novel arrangement and combination. of a metal container, with the exhaust pipe for generating the steam drawn into the intake manifold.

A still further object is to provide a humidifying device which can be easily and quickly assembled and mounted, which requires no change, fitting, or alteration in the engine or vehicle body, and which can be mounted by unskilled labor.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, Without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine showing my humidifying device in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, part sectional view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary View showing the exhaust pipe and liquid container, the filling port being shown in open position.

Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the valve sleeve showing the ports.

Fig. '7' is also a similar detail showing additional ports.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail of the end of the valve casing showing the stops.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I!) indicates a conventional internal combustion engine provided with an intake manifold H to which the carburetor I2 is connected; an exhaust pipe l3 leads from the engine in the usual manner, and through which the exhaust gas is exhausted from the engine. 5

A liquid receptacle M is mounted on this exhaust pipe l3 and is formed as clearly shown. in Figs; 4 and 5 of the drawings. A filling port [5 is provided in this liquid receptacle and comprises a cup-shaped member l6 pivotally mounted 10 on the receptacle, the lip ll projecting beyond the opening so that it can be easily manipulated, the wings of the member [6 frictionally engaging the receptacle so that it is firmly held in open or closed position.

The upper end of the liquid receptacle is constricted as at IT, and a flexible pipe I8 leads to a preferably sheet metal chamber l9 which surrounds and is mounted on the valve mechanism. The valve comprises a nipple 20 which is threaded into the side wall of the manifold, the opposite end of the nipple being threaded into a coupling 2| as usual. Another nipple 22 is threaded into the opposite end of the coupling and also engages a valve casing 23 which is provided with spaced apart ports 24, 25, and 26 respectively, a transversely disposed slot 21 being provided in this casing at a point directly adjacent the outer end, and notches 28 are formed in the one edge thereof and for a purpose to be 30 presently described.

A hollow sleeve 29 is rotatably mounted in the casing 23, and ports 30, 3|, and 32 are provided therein in spaced apart relation, and when in a certain predetermined position register with the 5 ports 24, 25, and 26 provided in the casing. Circumferentially spaced ports 33 and 34 are also provided in the sleeve and are adapted to register with the ports 24 and 25 when less humidity is required. Another circumferentially spaced 40 port 35 is also provided in the sleeve 29, and this port registers with the port 26 in the sleeve when a minimum of humidity is required.

A screw 36 is threaded in the sleeve 29 and. projects through the slotted opening 21 provided 45 in the casing, a spring 3'! being interposed between the end of the nipple 22 and the end of the sleeve 29, so that an outward pressure is provided on the sleeve at all times, the screw 36 engaging in the notches 28 as the sleeve is 50 rotated, so that it can be set and held in position.

A rod 38 engages in opening 39 provided in the forked end 40 of the sleeve, leading upwardly and through the bearing 4| provided on the in- 55 strument panel 42 of the vehicle, a lever 43 being fixed on the end of the rod so that it can be manipulated to cause certain of the ports in the sleeve to register with the ports in the Gasing so that the volume of steam or moist air can be varied to suit the engine requirements, the screw engaging the notches and holding the sleeve in its adjusted position.

The hot exhaust gases from the engine quickly heat the liquid in the receptacle l4 so that humidity is supplied almost as soon as the engine is started. plied to vehicles already in use, as Well as to vehicles in the process of manufacture. It is easily and readily installed, and will enable a motorist to travel more miles per gallon of gasoline consumed and effect a substantial saving in the operation of the automobile.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical, and economical humidifying device for internal combustion engines.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described and comprising a valve adapted to be connected to- It can be readily filled and can be apcertain of said ports in said casing and sleeve respectively into register for varying the volume of air admitted to the sleeve, a plurality of seats provided on said casing, a stop on the sleeve, and a spring interposed between the nipple and the one end of the sleeve for forcing said stop into engagement with one of said seats to secure the sleeve in adjusted position, and a shell surrounding said valve casing and connected to a suitable source of air supply.

2. In a device of the character described and comprising a valve adapted to communicate with the intake manifold of an engine, said valve comprising, a nipple, a valve casing connected thereto, an inner sleeve removably mounted therein and provided with longitudinal and circumferentially spaced apart intake ports, longitudinally spaced ports in said casing, a circumferential slotted opening in said casing and formed with a plurality of spaced apart seats in one edge thereof, an outwardly projecting stop on the sleeve and accommodated by said slotted opening, a spring interposed between the nipple and one end of the inner sleeve for forcing said stop and sleeve longitudinally in the casing and into seating engagement with one of said seats when the sleeve is rotated to vary the port area opening thereinto, a forked end on the sleeve and a rod pivotally connected thereto and adapted to lead to the instrument panel of a vehicle, a shell surrounding said valve, and an opening in said shell for connection to a suitable source of air supply.

EDWARD NIETHAMER. 

